Ukrainian Institute Comes to a Close

Dear friends and colleagues,

Today was the final full day of the Institute for Excellence here in Kyiv, Ukraine.  It’s been a wonderful time of learning and fellowship.  We’ve had excellent presentations, stimulating discussions, and a very positive spiritual tone throughout the week.

Yesterday during lunch I sat at a table with three staff members from a school in Moldova.  We were joined in conversation by three other participants, from a training program in a Central Asian country.  Due to a hostile environment, the training program is not able to operate openly, and yet it has around 80 students that periodically meet for week-long training in private homes.

The Moldovan school was asking the leaders of this other training program how they could further help.  Already they have trained several faculty members from this training program.  They send some of their own faculty into this Central Asian country to teach in some of these intensive week-long courses.  They send their own students on short-term mission trips to encourage this hard-pressed church.  And, now they were asking how else they could be of assistance.

This was incredibly encouraging to me.  This was not something that Overseas Council planned.  But, it was definitely, in the Lord’s providence, a significant outcome of our gathering this week.

This school in Moldova would not be known for its abundance of resources.  Moldova is, I believe, the poorest country in Europe.  But God has put it in their heart to reach out to the people of Central Asia, the so-called “stan countries”, all of which have Muslim-majority populations.  Over 200 students have already come to this Moldovan seminary from Central Asia for training, and have returned to their home countries, including the three brothers who were sitting together around the lunch table with their former teachers. (The Moldovan government readily issues student-visas for such students, unlike many other countries in this region.)

As God would have it, both Moldovans and the population from this Central Asian country speak a common language – Russian, a legacy of the Soviet Union’s influence in both countries – the Russian language functioning in this part of the world sort of like Greek in the time of the Apostle Paul, and with the same advantage for the Gospel.

So, as we talked (well, I mostly listened through translation), we brainstormed about other ways this Moldovan school could be of further help.  Other schools in this region have also reached out, using their own resources, to this particular training program by sending part-time teachers, for instance.

This sort of Kingdom collaboration, springing up before my eyes, brings joy to my spirit.  In some cases, Overseas Council is involved in facilitating or prompting such cooperation between seminaries.  Sometimes OC, at Institutes like this one, simply provides the space for such collaboration to take place, moved, as we are by God’s Spirit.

Thank you so much for your prayers for us this week.

Ukrainian Institute!

Dear friends and colleagues,

In learning about financial sustainability for the seminary, the question invariably surfaces, “How about donations from overseas?  What’s the maximum percentage of a seminary’s income should come from foreign gifts?”  It’s an important question, and one that doesn’t have a single nor simple answer.

This morning during my presentation to the seminary leaders gathered here for this Institute for Excellence in Kiev, I had the opportunity to directly respond to this question.  While there would be plenty of room for further response, here are some of the points that came to mind.

When I talk about financial sustainability, I’m not talking about SELF-sustainability.  There may be a few for-profit schools which might be self-sustainable, but I don’t see that as a necessary or even admirable goal.

It’s a good thing that we depend on God and God’s people for gifts to support the work of the seminary.  For one thing, this keeps us responsive to the church and the people that we hope to serve.  If we were totally financial independent from the people that we intend to serve, it wouldn’t be long before we were no longer serving them.

And, it’s a good thing to deepen our trust in the Lord for His provision.  In regularly depending on God’s provision through His people, we are modeling what we expect will be the experience of our students when they graduate, who, in their own ministries, will also be dependent on the Lord’s provision through the gifts of God’s people for their daily bread.

So, even if someone were to offer a seminary enough money that they would never have to accept another gift from anyone, upon serious reflection, it really would be better to decline.  To accept such a gift would be to put into danger the seminary’s responsiveness to the church and trust in the Lord.

While acknowledging that our every provision is from the hand of the Lord, a seminary should seek sources of income which are balanced, diversified, and reliable.  It’s possible that a seminary could be overly dependent on a single source of gifts.  In the experience of many of the seminaries here, overseas gifts can be less reliable over time.

Over dependence on overseas gifts can also dull the ability of a seminary to listen to the voice of the local church which it intends to serve – again, by promoting an unhealthy sense of independence and lack of local ownership.  A seminary needs to cultivate financial support from its own constituency.

There is no single answer to the question about proportion of overseas gifts for a seminary.  Each seminary is unique with its own unique challenges and opportunities.

Overseas Council, as an organization that regularly and intentionally comes alongside seminaries to assist financially, regularly evaluates its own giving to facilitate healthy growth and promote seminaries that continue to be responsive to their own contexts, not independent from them.

Warmly in Christ,

Scott

The Institute Goes to Ukraine (with a close up on Christians in a closed country)

Dear friends and colleagues,

Today, at a Christian retreat center on the outskirts of Kiev, Ukraine, we began our Institute for Excellence for Eurasia.  The 120 participants, all Russian speaking, are from seminaries and training programs from Russian-speaking republics that were once part of the Soviet Union.  While most of the schools that are represented here are located in either Russia itself or Ukraine, for the first time we have participants from a Christian leadership development program operating covertly in a closed country nearby.

This closed country is in Central Asia.  It has a secular, totalitarian government within a nominally Muslim context (90% of the population).  While Eastern Orthodox Christianity is tolerated, this is only for the ethnically Russian segment of the population.  On the other hand, for ethnic nationals following Christ is a road often leading to harsh government persecution and hostility.  To quote Wikipedia, “The government indulges in massive persecution of Christians. There is strong pressure on Christians from a Muslim background in remote areas.”  The ministry organization, Open Doors, ranks this country as one of the top 10 on their watch list of countries around the world where Christians are most severely persecuted.

Another Christian website describes the situation like this: “Churches in [this country] are often shut down and church leaders can be jailed for conducting worship services. Nevertheless, stories have emerged of pastors continuing with their ministry following their release from prison and of churches growing despite harassment by police.” Here is an example of one of the countries in Central Asia on this website: (http://www.worldprayermap.co.uk/centralasia/uzbekistan.html)

We have the wonderful privilege of having three Christian leaders from this country with us this week in Kiev for the Institute.  I heard the fascinating testimony of one of them, on the two-hour taxi ride from the airport.  This person,  now a thirty-something young man, came to the Lord as a university student in the mid-90s through a Campus Crusade worker.  It was near the beginning of the 10-year window following the collapse of the Soviet Union, when Western missionaries were most active in the country.  After finishing his degree, he went for training to be equipped for ministry, in seminaries in Moscow and now (part-time) in Austria.

This person pastors an underground church in the capital.  It’s a church-plant with three families, meeting in homes, on different days of the week.  He also coordinates the only formal Christian training program in the entire country.  He has classes in the capital as well as a half-dozen other cities.  Teachers and students meet secretly in homes in evenings and weekends.  All together 80 Christian leaders are being trained through this program, essential to the strength and growth of the Church.

The Institute is a unique opportunity for this person to be with 120 other Christian leaders, all involved in educating, training, and equipping other leaders in this region of the world.  And, it’s also a wonderful privilege for us, as Overseas Council, to encourage and strengthen the leaders of these seminaries and other training programs – in places like this one.

Warmly in Christ,

Scott

What is the Institute for Excellence in Christian Leadership Development?

The Institute for Excellence has been essential for Overseas Council to achieve its goal of assisting training centers around the world to train Christian leaders who make a difference in the church and society. So what is the Institute?

The Institute for Excellence is a 4 day gathering where a 1-4 person team from many training centers in a given region come together to discuss best practices, collaborate on regional focuses, and work through common regional challenges in their efforts to train effective Christian leaders.

This year, including an institute that starts next week in Ukraine, we will have completed 7 institutes, covering 5 continents. If we amalgamate the totals to display the overall impact of these Institutes, we will have had 148 training centers represented from 74 countries.

All 407 participants came to discuss Organizational Change and Financial Sustainability. Training Centers in Africa learned about innovative ways one school is using some of their property for a banana plantation that assists the school financially. Training Centers in South America are working on a collaborative training program. In India, several training centers are beginning to share trainers with one another in order to collaborate and be better stewards.

Here are a few updates on improvements the Institute over the past year:

Opt-In Model: Learning will more likely occur if it responds to a perceived need and is “owned” by the learner. A school should participate in an Institute because it is “pulled” to do so, not because we are “pushing” it. They should anticipate value and relevance in the Institute. They will participate because they want to learn about the topic of the Institute and be ready to make improvements.

More Participants Per Seminary: Organizational change is more likely to take place if there is a “guiding coalition” within the seminary

Pre-Institute Learning Activities: Learning will more likely take place where there are multiple interventions both prior to and after the Institute.

Ministry Action Plan: The MAP has four objectives. It facilitates learning during the Institute as participants from the same school wrestle with the implications of the content for their own situation, it provides a way for each school to identify and articulate the action steps as a result of the Institute, it provides a starting point for post-Institute interaction between the RD and seminaries which desire collaboration in the implementation of their plans. Finally, it provides a basis for discerning observable outcomes attributable to the Institute.

Regional Director Involvement, Regional Attentiveness and Communities of Learning were three other factors that will become increasingly influential in charting the Institute’s effectiveness.

Wrapping up Manila

Dear friends and colleagues,

As we focus on the theme of financial sustainability and organizational change at this week’s Institute in Manila, I’m struck by what many of the seminaries who are represented here are already doing, by God’s grace.  Yes, there is room for improvement.  Yes, the storm clouds are on the horizon.  Yes, many schools will need to envision and implement changes in their financial and educational methods.  But, given the current responsiveness of these schools to their current contexts and the quality of their leadership, I’m confident that they will be able to make the changes necessary to not only survive, but also to thrive.

Here’s a taste of the kinds of ministries represented by these 50 seminary leaders from around southeast and east Asia.

* A seminary here in Manila has a focused ministry on the Chinese community.  Over 100 of their students come from mainland China.  Over 200 alumni have already returned and are serving the Christian community in China, both official and “unrecognized” congregations.  Almost all of the students are given scholarships funded by the Chinese community in Manila.

* Another seminary here in Manila has as its vision to train Christian leaders who will impact society through the “7 mountains” of cultural influence – education, government, media, arts and entertainment, business, family, and religion.  They have agreements with various agencies of the Filipino government for the training of (for instance) army officers, university faculty, Christian business-people, and mayors and governors.  They offer a variety of educational programs through non-traditional means.

* Eight seminaries here in the metro Manila area have formed a consortium to offer masters and doctorate degrees with a variety of different subjects.  Each of the degrees is hosted by one of the eight consortium members.  This sort of deliberate collaborative effort allows for maximum use of resources.

* A seminary in South Korea focuses on those who desire to be trained in English rather than in the Korean language.  Most of the students are Koreans who will serve in mission fields around the world.  As a result of the Institute, the seminary wants to begin an online program in order to serve these alumni through continuing education.

This is just a slice.  Many of the other schools here are equally effective in serving their own churches and contexts.  But they realize that to become even more effective, and to be able to sustain these ministries into the future, for many, there will be changes ahead.

Pray for these leaders.  Tomorrow we will be wrapping up our Institute.  Each school will be finalizing its Ministry Action Plan – steps they will be taking to implement what they are learning this week.

Warmly in Christ,

Scott

Bolstering change in Bangkok

Dear friends and colleagues,

Manoch Jangmook is the president of Bangkok Bible Seminary, the most influential institution for theological education in Thailand, a country where the majority are Buddhists, but with a growing Christian community.  BBS began 40 years ago, an outcome of the dedication of a missionary along with collaboration of Thai church leaders and fellow missionaries from Overseas Missionary Fellowship and the Christian and Missionary Alliance.  In 1971 the school began with 5 students and a budget almost entirely supported by Western dollars.  Today the seminary has over 500 students in a variety of programs serving Thai churches and is funded mainly from Thai sources.

A few pictures of BBS:

BBS students helping out in the Tsunami area

Students studying in the library

BBS students sharing Jesus' love to children

We asked Manoch to share about the role of the leader in financial sustainability of the seminary.  He described the legacy of the first missionary principal, a man of prayer, dedication, conviction, and vision.  He was a model of the kind of graduates the seminary was committed to forming – leaders of integrity, with a heart for evangelism, and skills for pastoring Thai congregations.  His successors at the helm of BBS brought other gifts and qualities to the leadership of the school.  Manoch’s conclusion was this:

“The activities of BBS’s leaders to the local Christian community brought respect and reputation to the seminary.  As a result, it has grown through financial support and public relations.”

Following Manoch’s presentation, we spent the next session in our table groups, discussing the question, “What are five most important qualities and skills of a seminary leader contribute to financial sustainability?”  Afterwards we shared our collective wisdom and experience with the 50 other participants who make up the Institute this week.  One group talked about vision, belief in the vision, and ability to communicate it to others.  Some groups focused on the leader’s integrity, character, and walk with God.  Some talked about administrative skills such as the ability to develop a strong team and then be able to delegate to them.  The responses were varied and wide-ranging.  And, that was part of the point – there’s no “silver bullet” to the matter of financial sustainability for the seminary, but the right kind of leader plays a vital role.

While there is no single formula to financial sustainability, it’s an incredible blessing when we see God’s provision for God’s people who are fulfilling God’s purposes, like for Manoch and Bangkok Bible Seminary.

Keep praying.

Warmly in Christ,

Scott

Manila: Storm Clouds on the Horizon

The image of “storm clouds on the horizon,” which I used in the opening presentation this afternoon for the Institute, was particularly appropriate for the context.  More on why in a few lines.

Today we began our seventh Institute for Excellence for the year, gathering over 50 leaders of seminaries from about 20 seminaries located through southeast and east Asia including Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.  As with previous Institutes this year, we are considering questions regarding financial sustainability for seminaries and programs where leaders for the Church are being developed.

The storm imagery coincides with a typhoon that is now pouring torrents of water on northern parts of the Philippines.  Last night I slept through the sounds of trees bowing to gale-force winds and the torrential rains pounding the streets here in metro Manila.  Several airports in the Philippines were closed, and we were concerned that many arriving by air wouldn’t make it.  As the Lord would have it, though some arrivals were delayed, all of our overseas participants have now come.  It is some of the locals who are yet to arrive, as many of the roadways are flooded.

I used the picture of the storm clouds to portray the very serious conditions that some seminaries are either now experiencing or are very close to it.  Our Overseas Council research points to storm clouds which threaten the very existence of some of the seminaries around the world we have the privilege of working with.

* Full-time enrolment of students is decreasing in some seminaries.  This is especially true for smaller seminaries.

* Gifts from overseas are declining in proportion to income from local sources.  (That can be a good thing!)

* Operating expenses in many seminaries are becoming an increasing burden.

Not every school is experiencing these storm clouds, nor are they being experienced to the same extent in every region of the world.  But it is clear that for some seminaries the traditional financial and educational models which they now use will need to be adjusted, or perhaps radically changed, if schools are to continue to fulfill their purpose.  So, while the mission of developing Christian leaders will not change, new sustainable models and methods will need to be employed.

In sum, that’s why were gathering this week.  And, though the storm clouds gather, and in some cases have already burst, if earlier Institutes are any indication, the sun is beginning to shine through.

Pray for informative sessions, fruitful discussions, and realistic action steps to be formulated.

Warmly in Christ,

Scott

Manila Update

The Institute for Excellence moves to Manila in the Philippines this week. So did Typhoon Pedring (http://bit.ly/pjEc8q). We are in close conversation with Dean of the Institutes, Scott Cunningham, and it looks like things are expected to be moving smoothly, in light of this weather. Scott has asked us to pray for those traveling to the Institute this morning. 

This is an interesting Institute, as this region has a wide variety of training centers with varying degrees of challenges. Some of the centers have strong donor bases, and some continue to utilize traditional models of training that prove to be effective and possibly sustainable in this region. There are also many training centers with stories significantly different from these.

Please pray with us:

1. For those traveling this AM

2. For the leaders to be refreshed and reinvigorated by working with their peers throughout this week

3. Training Centers to be augmented through the outcomes of this week

4. The Spirit to be filling the attendees throughout the week

Responsive Theological Education in Asia

Dear friends and colleagues, While the Institute for Excellence here in Bangalore this week has been focusing on financial sustainability as one of the pillars of effective theological education, my interaction here in India with various seminaries has directed my thoughts to another key quality.  To be effective in Christian leadership development, a seminary must be “responsive.” The seminary must respond to its context.  Who are its students?  What is being taught in the curriculum it offers?  For what purpose?  How is its education provided? – what we call the “mode of delivery.”  Who are its teachers?  Where and when do they teach? I prefer“responsive” rather than “relevant.”  Relevant seems to be reactive instead of proactive.  It seems to focus more narrowly on the needs of the church and society rather than a broader range of issues to which the effective seminary responds.  And, relevance seems to answer to the immediate and perceived need, but not necessarily to longer-term and less obvious needs that will sustain a mature church into the next generation. What brings this characteristic of effective theological education to my mind is how I have been so pleased to see it displayed by so many seminaries that are represented here this week. Let me illustrate responsiveness by mentioning some of variety that is represented here: TAFTEE must be one of the largest programs of “theological education by extension” (TEE) in the world.  It has 11,000 active students in its lower level certificate program, scattered around India, and in a wide variety of denominations. A seminary in Sri Lanka has 20 extension centers located around the island nation, with over 200 students. Several seminaries have broken away from English as the traditional language of education to offer full degree-level programs in local vernacular languages, increasing accessibility to higher education. Innovative programs are being offered, such as a Masters in Organizational Leadership; or a foundation course in the planning stages called “Abundant Life” aimed at new believers to be offered by TEE in 15 languages. SAIACS, our host school, is considering offering a new masters program in a “hybrid” model, combining distance education with an intensive module on campus lasting several weeks, a model that they have successfully implemented in a Doctor of Ministry degree. How can Overseas Council come alongside seminaries which want to become even more responsive to their contexts? Warmly in Christ, Scott

Responsive Theological Education in Asia

Dear friends and colleagues, While the Institute for Excellence here in Bangalore this week has been focusing on financial sustainability as one of the pillars of effective theological education, my interaction here in India with various seminaries has directed my thoughts to another key quality.  To be effective in Christian leadership development, a seminary must be “responsive.” The seminary must respond to its context.  Who are its students?  What is being taught in the curriculum it offers?  For what purpose?  How is its education provided? – what we call the “mode of delivery.”  Who are its teachers?  Where and when do they teach? I prefer“responsive” rather than “relevant.”  Relevant seems to be reactive instead of proactive.  It seems to focus more narrowly on the needs of the church and society rather than a broader range of issues to which the effective seminary responds.  And, relevance seems to answer to the immediate and perceived need, but not necessarily to longer-term and less obvious needs that will sustain a mature church into the next generation. What brings this characteristic of effective theological education to my mind is how I have been so pleased to see it displayed by so many seminaries that are represented here this week. Let me illustrate responsiveness by mentioning some of variety that is represented here: TAFTEE must be one of the largest programs of “theological education by extension” (TEE) in the world.  It has 11,000 active students in its lower level certificate program, scattered around India, and in a wide variety of denominations. A seminary in Sri Lanka has 20 extension centers located around the island nation, with over 200 students. Several seminaries have broken away from English as the traditional language of education to offer full degree-level programs in local vernacular languages, increasing accessibility to higher education. Innovative programs are being offered, such as a Masters in Organizational Leadership; or a foundation course in the planning stages called “Abundant Life” aimed at new believers to be offered by TEE in 15 languages. SAIACS, our host school, is considering offering a new masters program in a “hybrid” model, combining distance education with an intensive module on campus lasting several weeks, a model that they have successfully implemented in a Doctor of Ministry degree. How can Overseas Council come alongside seminaries which want to become even more responsive to their contexts? Warmly in Christ, Scott

Welcome to the OC Institutes Blog!

2010 Institute in Accra

The Institute for Excellence in Christian Leadership Developmentis an international forum developed by OC to strengthen leadership skills and organizational expertise for presidents, deans and other senior administrators at partner institutions. Since the first Institute in 1999, more than 1,150 leaders from 236 institutions representing 96 countries have participated.

Under the oversight of Dr. Scott Cunningham, OC’s Dean of Leadership Development, the goal of future Institutes is to become increasingly transformational, relevant, integrated, focused, evaluated, cost-effective and donor-friendly. The Institutes are designed to significantly contribute to school development, so identifying specific needs, reinforcing goals and establishing a culture of evaluation help accomplish and effectively implement growth and transformation for these regions of the world.

In 2011, OC will hold 7 Institutes for leaders of strategic training centers around the world. The Institute theme will be “Organizational Change and Financial Sustainability.”

*Four-day Institutes will take place in:

• San José, Costa Rica (3/29/11-4/1/11)
• Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (5/3/11-5/6/11)
• Santiago, Chile (5/24/11-5/27/11)
• Cairo, Egypt (8/9/11-8/12/11)
• Bangalore, India (9/6/11-9/9/11)
• Manila, Philippines (9/27/11-9/30/11)
• Kyiv, Ukraine (10/24/11-10/28/11)

…And the Africa Institute Begins!

Here is a brief updated from Jason Ferenzci (VP of International Partnerships at OC), giving a brief context of the Institute beginning in Ethiopia today! 

Evangelical Theological Seminary is hosting the Africa Institute this year.

The Institute for Excellence in Ethiopia is up and running this morning! Our 100+ attendees come from 45 seminaries all over Africa. The topic for the week is , “financial sustainability and change” which was chosen after surveying seminaries all over the world in 2010.  Each school will send between 3-4 members of their team for the week, covering a portion of their travel and lodging costs as an investment in their team. This is a critical time as theological education (and education more broadly) faces immense changes. This Institute isn’t a “chalk and talk” workshop where a bunch of western experts share the “proper” way to do things. Rather, this is a big discussion, drawing on the decades of experience in the room and the real challenges that these men and women face. A lot of time will be devoted to group work among individual school teams, seeking to facilitate application exercises and creative thinking about individual situations.

My investment has been largely on the front end, through a lot of work with my African colleagues (Victor Nakah of Zimbabwe and Philippe Emedi of the DRC) and the director of our Institutes (Scott Cunningham, who himself lived and worked in Africa for more than 25 years). It is a privilege to work with a team like this.

It is our hope that this week will lead to:

• a sense of commonality and fellowship among participants (many look forward to this gathering every year)

• serious and practical reflection on the topic of sustainability of seminaries in Africa, including interaction with some leaders from other parts of the world (including Daniel Aleshire of the Association of Theological Schools in North America).

• reflection on what it means to lead change within communities. While some of this will be rather “nuts and bolts,” utilizing John Kotter’s materials, we are deliberately focusing more on the human element of change leadership, for it seems to us that this is the most critical, especially for Christian institutions.

• personally, I look forward to learning a lot and having good fellowship with African friends.

Thanks for the update Jason!

this is just the beginning?!

The Institute for Excellence began officially this afternoon. Over 100 people have already arrived, with 20 or so additional people expected tonight or early tomorrow morning due to delayed flights. The diversity of the group is amazing, coming from 22 African countries, plus observers and participants from the US, UK, Germany, and Switzerland. The meeting is bilingual, English and French, with translation to the other language, although conversations in German, Portuguese, Twi, Amharic, and Swahili, among others, are taking place on the edges.

The theme of the week is “sustainability.” What does that mean? Basically, it gets at the problem of how a seminary manages to accomplish its mission within the constraints of limited resources. My colleague, Scott Cunningham, started the meeting off with a presentation that argued that sustainability is about the intersection of three key components of any training institution – its business model, its educational practice, and its mission. All of these are in turn nested in the dynamic context in which the school operates. Are theological schools able to respond to the rapidly changing needs of churches and broader society? Not a few leaders here feel a bit overwhelmed, as if the floor is shifting beneath them.

It is interesting to see many of the schools developing new and creative ways to sustain their missions, including approaches as diverse as renting out facilities, running a banana plantation, or providing agricultural and community development training. Dr. Daniel Aleshire, Executive Director of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) in the United States also gave a presentation on questions of sustainability in North America, to which my colleague and friend Dr. Victor Nakah responded from an African perspective. Today’s sessions merely “plowed open the soil,” setting the stage for much more robust interaction tomorrow. It’s really a joy for me to see these sessions growing increasingly interactive and oriented toward adult learning principles with each passing year. I’m really proud of my colleagues.

Tonight, we shared a wonderful welcome banquet hosted by our friends at the Evangelical Theological College. They served a lovely Ethiopian buffet. A number of special guests from the community joined us, including the US Ambassador to the African Union (based in Addis Ababa). He is a former pastor and president of a theological school in Atlanta. He encouraged the participants that they play a critical role in raising up transformative leaders in Africa. I couldn’t agree more. It’s really a privilege to be with such a diverse, talented, and engaged group of people. And this is just the beginning.

Changes to the Institutes are proving fruitful!

An update from the Dean of OC Institutes, Scott Cunningham:

Generally, I have little interest in “conferences.”  In conferences,

people just confer.  There may be a transfer of information

(frequently from one person to many), but often there is no action or

change as a result.  What I do value is creating space for

transformative education.  And, that’s what I am committed to through

the Institutes for Excellence.  I want to see seminaries becoming more

effective in training Christian leaders as an outcome of such a week

as the one we are now part of here in Ethiopia.

 

One of the improvements we have made in this year’s Institute was to

encourage more than just the principal or president of the seminary to

participate in the Institute.  Yes, it is certainly important that the

head of the school be present.  But, we have learned that change is

the seminary is more likely if there is something closer to a

“critical mass” participating along with the principal.  So, this year

many of the seminaries have sent three or four participants.

 

During the small group discussions we have scheduled for the day, it’s

invigorating to observe the faculty, staff, and principals of each

school gathered together in conversation, deepening their learning as

they reflect on the presentations and making plans for what kind of

improvements they want to make in their seminaries upon their return.

 

Last month in the Costa Rica Institute, one of the principals told me

how much he appreciated the opportunity to bring several other

seminary staff with him to the Institute.  “It’s like a faculty

retreat.  We have always wanted to discuss these important issues of

financial sustainability, but it seems that we never had time.  You

have provided us the opportunity for this guided discussion together

as a staff.”  Today I heard the same kind of comment from the

president of a Nigerian seminary who came with his board chair and two

staff members.  In thanking me for the Institute he particularly

singled out this extraordinary opportunity for his staff to also

benefit, and even more, for the seminary to benefit from their

discussion and planning together this week.

 

Thank the Lord with us for the excellent presentations and the

fruitful discussion we observed today.  And, pray for strength,

courage, clear minds, and for the Spirit’s work among us tomorrow as

these seminary leaders consider how to lead change in their

seminaries.

 

Warmly in Christ,

 

Scott

Closing thoughts on the Ethiopia Institute for 2011

Kenya, Central African Republic, South Africa, Zambia

Mozambique, Ethiopia, Chad, Nigeria, Congo, Namibia

Uganda, Senegal, Togo, Sierra Leone, Benin, Ghana

… are just some of the countries that were represented at the Institute in Ethiopia a couple of weeks ago.

Here are a few closing thoughts on the time spent in Ethiopia: 

OC had a unique platform this year, bringing together seminaries from around the whole continent who have not had the opportunity to come together in this way for over 15 years.  19 Countries were represented from the African Continent, 25 including outside continents. The people represented in these 19 countries were able to share common challenges and solutions. For example, when discussing the topic of entrepreneurial opportunities in the third stream of revenue for a seminary, one leader shared the invaluable asset a banana plantation has been for his seminary, in which another seminary leader realized aloud, “we could do this”.

The changes in the actual event have proven fruitful and the emphasis is now on how the school could benefit from this conference, not just how participants can benefit. Strategic changes to this paradigm shift include a MAP (Ministry Action Plan) designer per seminary instead of designed per participant. This encourages the seminary team at the conference to collaborate effectively in deciding what is best for the seminary.

Leaving Ethiopia was difficult, as it was a unique opportunity to see an entire continent of seminary leaders all committed to the same purpose Overseas Council is committed to: Advancing Christian Leaders.

Pre-Santiago Institute (May 24-27, 2011)

group photo from Quito Institute last year

Last year, Overseas Council took a survey of theological institutions around the world. The two chief focuses were Financial Sustainability and Organizational Change. With 163 responses representing around 60 countries in the world, Scott Cunningham (Dean of Institutes for Excellence here at OC) and several other staff members spent months analyzing the data and developing relevant Institutes for Excellence in light of it. Each Institute is regionally focused, bringing in participants from the region to discuss the challenges and strengths specific to their context.

The biggest challenge for Latin America? The Plateau Effect: Compared to other regions around the world, there are fewer seminaries in Latin America growing in number of students. This insitute will focus on questioning whether the seminary programs are relevant, if they are providing the right kind of access to their programs, if they are considering the modern day Latin American student’s needs,  et cetera.

The biggest strength for Latin America? Our results lead us to believe that  Latin America generally has some of the more self-sufficient theological institutions of the 5 continents we surveyed. Be careful not to assume: “One of the more”  is comparing it to the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Eurasia. We are encouraged to see just what this strength looks like in context!

Keep checking in next week to be sure to get regular updates during the institute!

How you can Pray:

• For God to prepare the participants hearts and minds as they travel to Santiago this weekend
• For the Institute to act as a catalyst for healthy growth, encouragement, and challenge
• For logistical preparations to conclude in a timely manner
• For the leaders attending to feel refreshed by the peer-to-peer facilitated discussions, and one another’s company next week

Sensible Santiago

I write the evening of Day Two of our Institute for Excellence taking place in Santiago de Chile.  Eighteen schools, all training Christian leaders for Latin American churches, are represented by their principal accompanied by several other seminary leaders.  We are 47 in all.

Our host school here in Santiago is the Instituto Biblico Nacionale, a well-respected and highly influential seminary, founded by an American Assemblies of God missionary.  It is now independent and serving a wide variety of churches and is led by a Chilean, Daniel Ramos.

Choosing IBN as our host school as we conduct this Institute on the topic of financial sustainability was no accident.  Over the past few years, largely under Daniel’s leadership, the seminary has made substantial progress in becoming financially sustainable.  Not unlike many schools founded by Western missionaries, in earlier years it depended totally on donations from overseas for its operations.  Students contributed not a peso in tuition.  But IBN has experienced the unreliability of Western gifts, and has made a dramatic shift in the towards local and more dependable sources of funding for its expanding ministry.

Several years ago students began paying a modest amount of tuition fees, not so much that access is considerably restricted, but sufficient to provide a significant amount of dependable income.  Almost all students are part-time, meaning that they have some means of paying fees from their employment. Extension sites were started throughout Chile, not only expanding IBN’s reach, but increasing its financial base.

The main campus is located in a desirable downtown area, very close to a subway station and in the midst of a number of universities and academies.  They are also owners of an adjacent building, under-utilized in the past, and recently rented out to a music academy.  This provides a further dependable source of income.  There are plans to convert their parking lot into a multi-story parking garage, with almost certain profit from subway users.

The school started a modest Christian bookstore, aimed primarily at the needs of their students, but also generating some profit.  A small catering service does the same.

Yes, IBN is a “business”.  It pays salaries and utility bills.  It “sells” a service.  It conducts financial transactions, and can only do so as long as income meets expenses.  But, IBN is also a “school”.  It strives to have an effective educational model which results in competent graduates fit for service.  And, IBN also has a “mission” – to be a partner and servant of the Church in Chile.  To be truly financially sustainable, IBN must fulfill all three successfully; it must have a sustainable financial model; provide an effective education; and fulfill an appropriate mission in service of the Church.

Our goal this week is that other seminaries in this region will do the same.  Pray for God’s work among us this week – for each of the facilitators and participants.

Warmly in Christ,

Scott

Dean of the Institutes

Focused on the foremost; paramount prayers

(From our Dean of the Institutes)

As we’ve mentioned, this week we’ve been in Santiago, Chile working with 18 seminaries to discuss financial sustainability and organizational change. But today was different.

Josue (our Regional Director) guided this group into prayer just preceding our evening meal. The leaders of these institutes participating with us shared praises and requests. We started from Central American Theological Seminary in Guatemala City and worked our way south to partner schools in Argentina and Chile. Each leader shared for a few minutes, entering the center of the circle and accompanied by other team members from the school. They kneeled down and others gathered around and laid hands on them.

For me it’s a reminder, as well as evidence, that what each of these schools is doing (as well as what Overseas Council is doing as we come alongside them) is fundamentally and at its core a spiritual task.  We can learn about financial sustainability, and that’s a good thing to do, but ultimately it really is the Lord who provides.

Many of the leaders here come tired, lonely, discouraged, and even broken.  While we bring their requests to the throne of grace, perhaps the prayer fellowship of others who are engaged in the same task and who experience many of the same struggles and joys is one of the most important moments the Institute week.

Will you also join us in prayer for the Lord to encourage and teach them this week?

Warmly in Christ,

Scott

Now Approaching: Cairo

As I recall this past winter in Indianapolis, a reoccurring discipline comes to mind. Beyond the dramatically icy weather, I recall the commitment of our OC team to gather throughout January, convened to catch up on Cairo.  We conveyed steadfast familial prayers for our brothers and sisters throughout Egypt. From prayers of safety, to those of encouragement, our hearts were aligned in praying for the conclusion that would bring about the most glory toward the Lord; and steadfastness for those believers involved. We considered both those already in the fold, and the uncertain future for those who are still in need of hearing the Hope to which we hold.

During that time, floods of stories came in from our partner schools: students throughout that time received various opportunities to stop in the midst of this challenging time, and simply serve those around them. Many provided comfort in the chaos, protection in times of abandonment, and each story exemplified the boldness and courage our partners have, to seize every opportunity (as Paul exhorts us toward in Galatians 6).

We believe that Cairo will be a significant host for our Institute for the MENA region this week. With approximately 60 participants, this OC Institute will be the largest in this region so far! We  hope that this gathering will embody the changes the region has seen this past year, and incorporate some of the value shifts the peoples of these regions have identified. Pray for open hearts, innovative minds, and for the spirit of the attendees to be one of encouragement, collaboration and fellowship.

With a warm heart for the region,

Institute photo from 2010

Jessica Samples (Partnerships Liaison)

The Middle East: What is to come?

Dear friends and colleagues,

We began today our Institute for Excellence in Cairo, Egypt, for about 55 leaders of seminaries and theological education programs which are situated in the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe.  These are areas in which the Church (or at least, evangelicalism) is a decided minority – in the Middle East, of course, it is Islam which is dominant.  In countries like Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Serbia, the dominant religions are Catholic or Orthodox, or, more often now, secular.  So, despite the cultural differences, this minority status in face of a more dominant, often suppressive culture is a deeply felt common denominator (to speak nothing of the growing face of Islam in Europe).

For my reading on the trip I brought an issue of the Wilson Quarterly, the cover story of which asks the question, “The Middle East: What Next?”  The question, of course, is prompted by the tumultuous and ongoing changes which have taken place across the region: most prominently in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Syria, and Yemen.  The former president of Egypt, after ruling with a firm hand for 30 years, was put on trial last week.  Some have called this an “Arab Spring.”  Here in Egypt they talk about the “Revolution,” a term not filled with quite the same measure of hopefulness.  As one Egyptian commented, “It might turn out to be only a brief thaw, with another winter ahead of us.”

My taxi driver from airport thought that not much would change.  “It will be the same body, just a different head.”  The most common descriptions in answer to the question reflect a great deal of uncertainty.  For many this is accompanied by fear.  “Our fear is that the revolution is being hijacked by one segment of Egyptian society which wants to impose their will on all, and the hope for freedoms and rights for minorities which motivated many at the beginning of the revolution will again be suppressed by those who come to power.”  Last week the placards held by the crowds at Tahrir Square read “The Qu’ran is our constitution.”  And, “Christians have no place here.”  One can easily justify a spirit of uncertainty and fear in such circumstances.

But, a few Christians have expressed to me a spirit of hope.  “Egypt will never be the same.  We have found our voice.”  One seminary leader suggested that there are two possible paths for Egypt, but both will be good for the Church.  “Perhaps in the new government, Christians will have more rights for worship and expression.  Or, perhaps the country will become even more Islamicized.  But, that would also be good for the Church, as persecution would bring purification and strength.”

One of the major themes of this week, as we talk about the sustainability of the seminary, is role of the context.  First, the seminary is impacted by the context – as these seminaries serving in oppressive cultures know all too well.  Secondly, the seminary must be responsive to the context – what the real needs for church leadership and how do we shape our programs to meet those needs, both short-term and long-term?  And, we need to be willing to change as our context changes – not to change the function of theological education, but to change the forms in which we carry out that task.

Pray for us this week as we continue our exploration of these themes.  And, will you also join with me in prayer for Egypt road ahead.

Warmly yours in Christ,

Scott Cunningham

Remarkable News from MENA.

Dear friends and colleagues, One of the highlights of every Institute is hearing from seminary leaders about what God is doing in their midst – in their seminaries, but more broadly among believers and the churches they serve.  Last year, for the first time, we heard stories of the remarkable revival that is taking place in a closed Muslim country, where thousands have come to know the Lord in hundreds of villages.  The church is growing faster in this country, compared to any other country in the Muslim world.  Today we heard an update from a representative, and now from two other countries which are represented at the Institute for the first time. The story from this country remains incredible!  Several months ago we heard by email from our brothers and sisters there that the government had issued a decree informing the churches that an older law forbidding Christian activity and forcing the closure of churches was going to be strictly enforced.  Many of us prayed for the Christians, and for God’s hand to work in the government.  But I confess, I didn’t pray along the lines of this remarkable turn of events: this afternoon we heard that three weeks ago, completely unexpectedly the Evangelical fellowship there received a letter that the government is now ready to recognize Christian churches!  These Christians are quite positive about this change of posture on the part of the government, and despite some reservations, believe that this new situation will be much more favorable for the sake of the Gospel. From another country, we heard the stories of harsh repression of believers, particularly during the last three years.  Now the political situation is in the midst of a dramatic transition.  While this might point to a greater measure of freedom and protection of rights for Christians, as in Egypt, it may swing in the opposite direction if extreme Islamicists fill the power vacuum.  There is a spirit of fear among some Christians in the face of the uncertainties and these unfavorable possibilities.  But God is working!  Before the revolution, each week saw perhaps one new believer; now the church is growing four times faster! A brother from yet another closed country shared similar stories of government oppression, also in the last three years.  Recently there has been a significant deportation of foreigners who have been suspected of Christian activity.  Our brother asked for prayer for their training program which started two years ago and now has 15 students meeting for intensive courses in homes.  Pray, he said, that national leadership will be built to replace the foreign workers who have been expelled.  Pray for protection for these national leaders in face of continued oppression. What an incredible privilege to hear how God is working in the Middle East and North Africa, in situations where there is repression or persecution, but where the Lord is at work, building His Church! Continue to pray with us this week as we come alongside the programs and schools in these countries which are forming leaders for the Church to become even more effective and increasingly sustainable. Warmly in Christ, Scott

Juxtaposition of Mercy: William Carrey, Mother Theresa and Kali

Dear friends,

Dr Ashish Chripal (our Overseas Council Regional Director for Asia) and myself have made a brief stop-over on our way to Northeast India for a mini-Institute for the 8 Baptist seminaries in that remote district.  But, in Kalkota (the current spelling of the name), the ground has proven to be spiritually dry and hard.  Kalkota is the largest metropolitan area in all of India, with 20 to 25 million people (give or take a few million!).  This is the city where the “Father of Modern Missions,” William Carey labored for seven years before seeing the first convert.  Mother Theresa served Kalkota’s poor and marginalized.  Despite centuries’ of Christian witness, in word and deed, those who follow Christ make up less that 1% of the city’s residents.

Photography by Jessica Samples

Yesterday Ashish and I had the opportunity to visit one of several places where Mother Theresa served.  It’s a modest two-storey colonial style building with the name “Home for the Sick, Dying, and Destitute” painted above doorway.  It doesn’t stand out, buy you’ll also see a three-foot crucifix above the building, off to the side.  Here Hindus would bring those at the very bottom of the social ladder, the sick and destitute who had no hope for medical care. Here the Sisters of Mercy care for them in the last days of their earthly, caring for them and treating them with dignity, as those who are also share in God’s image.

In remarkable contrast, the adjacent compound is the temple to the goddess Kali, one of millions in the Hindu pantheon.  Kali is known as a blood-thirsty deity, and every morning goats and chickens are sacrificed as offerings, the blood brought to the idol and placed on her long tongue.  In our afternoon visit we were caught up with a jostling crowd of hundreds of devotees passing through the six-foot wide hallway to get a glimpse of her image and throw flowers as offerings.  Her worshippers hope she will be satisfied with these offerings, because then she will bless them with health and wealth.  She may give the barren woman a child, or protect the accused in court of law.  Basically, she is a “god in my pocket,” as Ashish described it, there to do my bidding if only I can satisfy her.

The juxtaposition is like day and night.  In one building, there is a display of Christian love.  The crucifix reminds us of the true God who satisfies His own righteous and holy demands, at His own great cost, by the offering of His son.  We can bring nothing to the table – our God has done it all on our behalf, at the same time displaying His love and satisfying His justice.  The Sisters of Mercy, in imitation of God’s love, care selflessly for the sick and dying, who bring nothing in their hands and will never be able to repay the kindnesses freely given to them.  On the other hand, in the temple next door, worshippers bring their blood offerings, hoping to placate a fitful goddess, who might repay their sacrifices and offerings with health, wealth, protection, or whatever other desire might be within her power to grant.

Pray for us, over the next few days, that in our gathering of seminary leaders from Northeast India, that the Lord will be working in our midst.  Our aim is to see a stronger working partnership between church and seminary in the training of Christian leaders for India – leaders with vision, integrity, and competence.

Warmly in Christ,

Scott

(Dean of the OC Institutes)

Northeast India: a culture defined by tribe and clan

Dear friends and colleagues,

North East India (NEI) is the backwater of this great country.  On a map you’ll see how it’s connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land bordered by Nepal and Bangladesh, and then opens up to become seven states known as “the tribal areas.”  While those in NEI are Indians by passport, the region is undeniably distinct from the rest of the country, and not only in its remote geography.

Economically, it is impoverished compared to the great cities of South and North India like Bangalore or Delhi.  Electricity goes off regularly during the high demand times in the evening.  Buildings are more modest in size and construction.  And, people prefer jeep-type vehicles to better negotiate the mountain roads.

The facial features of the typical NEI resident appear to be more closely related to those of Chinese or Southeast Asian extraction.  My new friends here tell me they are often mistaken as foreigners when travelling to other parts of their own country.

The culture in these parts is tribal in character.  While most of India is dominated by Hinduism with its caste system, here tribe and clan identity are more significant cultural markers.  Even the church is not exempt from this influence.  Every tribe, for instance, no matter how small in number, wants to have its “own” Bible college or seminary, regardless of the proximity of another seminary offering similar programs.

The most remarkable feature of NEI is the widespread receptivity to the Gospel, which was brought to these parts by Baptist missionaries 150 years ago.  Today Christianity is the “default” religion in the entire region and in some areas 9 out of 10 people would claim to be Christians.  For the most part these are evangelical congregations, though nominalism is a significant challenge.

While in Nigeria one of the first missionaries I met from a non-traditional sending country was Liau Facchai.  Liau and his wife Debbie were serving with SIM in a seminary in Ghana, West Africa.  It came as somewhat of a surprise to me to know of a missionary who had come from India, a country known to me previously as a destination of missionaries, not as a sending country!  “Some day I’d like to see for myself this significant pocket of Christian faith, sending forth the Light, even while surrounded by a sea of Hindus, Muslims, and Buddhists.”  And, by God’s grace, I finally have the opportunity.

For three days two dozen seminary leaders from NEI have gathered to learn how to strengthen their relationship with their congregations and denominations.  It’s been a very encouraging time of discussion, reflection, and presentations.  While somewhat constrained by a traditional system of theological education (originating with the college started by missionary William Carey almost 200 years ago), the seminary principals here have voiced their intentions to respond more effectively to the real needs of Christian leadership.

Tomorrow Dr Ashish and I will be making our way on a four-hour journey over mountain roads to visit one of the seminaries taking part in this mini-Institute.  On Monday we’ll return to Bangalore where next week we’ll be holding our regular Institute for Excellence.

Warmly in Christ,

Scott

(Dean of OC Institutes)

Institute for Excellence in India: Update 3

Dear friends and colleagues,

In my previous update I described some of what makes North East India unique in comparison with the rest of the country.  Whereas the “mainland” of India is dominated by Hinduism and Hindu culture, for 150 years the tribal people of North East India have shown remarkable receptivity to the Gospel.  Large Baptist church buildings, usually located on the highest plot of each mountain village, dominate the skyline.

In God’s workings, the churches of NE India are strongly missional in outlook.  In the 1950’s the Indian government believed that Western missionaries were supporting the independence movements in this region, and expelled all Westerners.  The NE churches understood that the leadership of the church was now in their hands, as was the responsibility  of the unfinished task to carry the Gospel to parts yet unreached.  The result was a strong missionary movement, entirely resourced by the Indian Baptist congregations.

Local congregations are generous in their missions giving.  It’s not unusual for a congregation to devote half of their budget to cross-cultural missions.  These are not wealthy churches by Western standards, and so their generous commitment is all the more remarkable and exemplary.

Laiu Facchai, the Indian missionary I mentioned in my last update, now directs SIM’s sending office here in NE India.  Over the past two years they have been the vehicle for sending out 18 new missionaries.  The Baptist associations in this region are responsible for many, many more.

While it is difficult to obtain long-term visas for missionaries from the West who wish to work in India, missionaries coming from NE India obviously have no such problems.  And, so the churches in this part of India have a unique opportunity to share the gospel with their Hindu neighbors in the mainland.

Seminaries here play a strategic role in promoting missions among their student bodies.  Students go on short-term mission trips.  God’s redemptive purpose for all nations is taught in Bible and theology courses, as well as courses focused particularly on the practice of missions.  It seems that a sizeable proportion of students have cross-cultural ministry as a calling for ministry after graduation.

This missions movement is not of the old paradigm, “from the West to the rest” (if that ever was the old paradigm).  Rather, it exemplifies what is happening in many parts of the world where Christ is worshipped as the Lord of all nations.  The new paradigm is “from every where to every where.”

In a few hours Dr Ashish and I will be returning to Bangalore, in South India.  The Institute for Excellence, which begins tomorrow will be hosted by SAIACS, the South Asia Institute for Advanced Christian Studies.  Three dozen leaders of seminaries from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal will be learning to think about what it means to have a financially sustainable seminary, and how to move increasingly in that direction.  Following the example of total indigenous support for missions in North East India, Christian leadership development should also be “owned” by the churches themselves.  Pray for the Lord’s hand to move among us this week.

Warmly in Christ,

Scott